Double-breasted undergarment for infants&#39; wear



June 30, 1953 V J. L. WYNER. EJ'AL DOUBLE-BREASTED UNDERGARMENT FORINFANTS WEAR Filed Dec. 28, .1951

-2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J1me ,3 J. L. WYNER ETAL 2,643,386

- DOUBLE-BREASTED UNDERGARMENT-FOR mums mm Fil ed Dec. 28, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 30, 1953 annexe DOUBLE-BREASTEDUNDERGARMENT FOR INFANTS WEAR Justin L. Wyner and'Ruth R. Scharf,Brookline, Mass., assignors to The Vanta Company Inc., Newton, Mass, acorporation of Rhode Island Application December 28, 1951, Serial No.263,869

This invention pertains to infants wear, more especially to anundershirt of the doublebreasted, wrap-around type. customarily, suchgarments have been provided with attached tapes or strings for drawingtogether and securing the front flaps. However the tying and untying ofknots in such tapes or strings .is troublesome, especially when theinfant is twisting or squirming about; the dangling ends of the tapesare unsightly, and the tapes tend to fray out and are often broken inlaundering. Since garments of this kind are usually of fine knittedfabric which does not afford a good anchorage for the direct attachmentof buttons, and because buttons may cause discomfort to the wearer,fasteners of that type have not been employed very generally in suchgarments.

Heretofore it has been proposed to arrange diaper tabs at the interiorof a childs garment, but such tabs have usually been so located that thedrag of the diaper, imposed directly upon the easily stretchable knittedfabric of the garment, causes the latter to sag and eventually to tearnear the point of attachment of the tab. In accordance with the presentinvention the tab is of sufiicient length to permit of its beingattached to the garment closely adjacent to a downward extension of theseam which secures the sleeve in place. Such a seam is far lessstretchable than the knitted fabric alone and since it extends over theshoulder it acts as a sling to carry the load imposed by the tab, thusrelieving the body portion of the garment of undue stress.

The present invention has for one object the provision of an infantsgarment of the class described having provision for holding the frontflaps in closed position by the use of separable fasteners, for examplesnap fasteners which will not cause discomfort to the wearer and whichare so applied as to afford a secure anchorage without danger of tearingthe garment material. A further object is to provide a garment of theabove type employing fastening means such as snap fasteners but withprovision whereby the girth size of the garment may be changed. Afurther object is to provide a garment of the above type havingelastically stretchable diaperattaching tabs which are concealed fromview when the garment is worn and which are so arranged that thelongitudinal stresses imposed upon the tabs are transmitted directly tothe shoulder portions of the garment and in such a way as to avoid unduestretching of the garment material. Other and further objects andadvantages of the invention will be pointed out in the 4 Claims. (Cl.2-411) following more detailed description and by reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the garmentas it appears when worn;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing both front flaps opened out toexpose the interior of the arment;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the righthand front flap in closedposition, but with the left-hand front flap open;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, front elevation of an edge portion of theright-hand flap showing the location of one of the fastener elements;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section to large scale on the line 55 of Fig. 3,illustrating the way of attaching one of the'fastener elements to thegarment;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts arranged toprovide for an increase in girth of the garment;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section, to large scale, on the line 1-1 of Fig.3;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the fastener supporting tab of Fig. 5 as it isprepared by the garment manufacturer; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation showing that portion of the interiorof the garment which is immediately below one of the arm scyes.

Referring to the drawings (Fig. 2). the numeral I designates the backportion of the garment and the numerals 2 and 3 the left and right frontflaps respectively. Preferably the back and the front flaps'are integralportions of a piece of knitted material, for example a fine rib-knitfabric. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the front flaps join the back portionof the garment at the regions indicated by the numerals 4 and 5. Thegarment is provided with arm scyes 6 and i (Fig. 2) for the reception ofsleeves 8 and 9 which are secured to the body material of the garment bysewed seams ill and Ii (Fig. l) which preferably extend downwardly belowthe arm scyes into the material of the body of the garment, as shown inI2 and 93 respectively (Fig. 1). While the invention is here illustratedas embodied in a garment having sleeves, it is contemplated that it maybe embodied in a sleeveless garment, if desired. The free edges of thegarment material are preferably provided with a binding M in accordancewith customary practice.

The left-hand front flap 2 has a substantially vertical edge portion i5(Fig. 1) which merges with a diagonal upper edge portion is, the latterbeing extended to form the back of the neck opening IT. The neck openingis defined in part by the diagonal edge portion l8 (Fig. 3) of therighthand flap 3 of the garment, said diagonal edge portion I8 mergingwith a substantially vertical edge portion I9.

One of the complementary elements 20 (Figs. 2 and'3) of a snap fastenerof a conventional but desirably fiat type is secured to the end of alength of tape 2| (preferably a close-woven textile tape), the other endof which is secured by stitches to the garment material, the stitches ofthe seam which unite this tape is the garment material preferablypassing through the garment material at the location of the downwardlyextending portion l2 of the seam which secures the sleeve 8 in place,thus affording a firm anchorage for the tape 2|.

The other of the complementary snap fastener elements is shown at 22 inFig. 4, this snap fastener element 22 being mounted upon a rectangularpiece 23 of close-woven textile fabric which, in turn, is secured to thegarment material of the front flap 3 by a sewed seam 24 which extendsalong the four edges of the piece 23, thus securely 4 flap 2 they willlikewise be carried by similar extensible tapes.

attaching the fastener element 22 to the front flap 3. The piece 23 ofmaterial which carries the fastener element 22 is located substantiallyat the junction of the diagonal and vertical edge portions I8 and I9 ofthe flap 3 and preferably the seam 24 intersects the seam which unitesthe binding [4 to the garment material, thus providing a very secureanchorage.

For holding the left-hand flap 2 in closed position a plurality of snapfasteners are provided, one of the complementary elements of therespective snap fasteners (of which two are here shown) being indicatedat 25 and 26 respectively. These snap fastener elements 25 and 26 aremounted on lengths of close-woven textile tape. As illustrated in Fig. 5the tape 29, which carries the fastener element 26 is preferably doubledat the place where the fastener element 26 is applied so as to providestrength to prevent the fastener element from being pulled out. Theopposite end of this length of tape 29 is secured to the material of thefront flap 2, preferably by the same sewed seam 30 which secures thebinding I4 to the edge of the flap. Preferably, as illustrated in Fig.5, the length of tape 29 is folded intermediate its ends, as shown at3|. to provide a loop, comprising the plies 32 and 33, and in themanufacture of the garment these plies 32 and 33 are united by a seam 34so as to preserve the loop constituted by these plies. However, thisseam 34 is of a type, for example, a chainst-itch seam, which mayreadily be ravelled or ripped out, if desired. If the seam 34 is thusravelled or ripped out, the loop in the tape straightens out, as shownin Fig. 6, thus providing a substantially greater length of tape betweenthe seam 30 and the snap fastener element 26 than is initially provided.Thus the effective girth size of the garment may be increased at willbut without necessitating the use of a series of snap fasteners at eachfastening point. The provision of a series of snap fasteners, to affordadjustability, would add materially to the cost of ,manufacture, and thepresence of idle fasteners might well cause discomfort to the wearer,whereas the provision of the rip seam is simple and cheap and itspresence can cause no discomfort. It is to be understood that the tapeswhich carry the snap fastener elements 20 and 25 will be extensible inthe same way as the tape 29, and that if additional snap fasteners areto be carried by the The snap fastener elements 21 and 28 (Fig. 3) whichare complementary to the fastener elements 25 and 26, are attached tothe front flap 3 closely adjacent to the junction of the latter with theback of the garment. Each of these fastener elements 21 and 28, forexample the element 28, as shown in Fig. 7, is mounted on a piece 35 ofclose woven textile fabric, preferably rectangular in outline, which issecured to the material of the flap 3 by a sewed seam 36 which extendsalong the four edges of the rectangular piece 35. The rectangular pieceof material which carries the uppermost fastener member 2! is preferablyso located that the seam which unites it to the body portion of thegarment, intersects the downward extension l3 of the seam which attachesthe sleeve 9, thus providing a very firm anchorage for the fastenerelement 25.

Preferably the garment is provided with longitudinally stretchableelastic diaper tabs 31 and 33 (Fig. 2) respectively, arranged at theinterior of the garment, each of these tabs preferably being formed fromthe piece of woven elastic webbing containing longitudinally extendingrubber threads 39. Each of these tabs is secured to the garment materialby one or more transverse sewed seams 40. The tabs are attached to theinterior of the garment adjacent to the junctions of the front flapswith the back portion but so that each of the tabs is actually securedto one of the front flaps, respectively. Preferably, the uppermost ofthe seams 40 is in a horizontal plane approximately at the lower end ofthe downward extension I2 and I3 of the sleeve-attaching seams. Withthis arrangement the stresses applied to the diaper-attaching tabs andwhich are transmitted by the latter to the material of the garment, areso imposed on the garment material that they are borne by the shoulderportions of the garment and as the stretching force thus imparted to thegarment material is applied closely adjacent to the sleeve-attachingseams, which extend over the shoulders of the wearer, these sleeveattaching seams not only act as reinforcements to prevent unduestretching of the garment material in response to pulls imposed on theelastic diaper tabs, but also vact as slings to carry the load imposedby the tabs, the elasticity of the tabs preventing undue strain on theback muscles of the child.

Inuse, the right-hand flap 3 is first drawn across the infant and issecured in place by the snap fastener comprising the parts 26 and 22.Then the left-hand flap 2 is drawn across so as to overlap the flap 3and is secured in place by the snap fasteners comprising thecomplementary elements 25-21 and 26-28 respectively. With thisarrangement the donning and doffing of the garment is greatlyfacilitated, as compared with usual practice where tapes or strings areemployed. The snap fasteners can not cause discomfort to the infant, andthe manner of anchoring the snap fastener elements to the garment issuch as to afford a very firm, secure and reliable anchorage withoutdanger of tearing or unduly stretching the garment.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been hereindisclosed by way of example it is to be understood that the invention isbroadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scopeof the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An infants garment of the wrap-around type of knitted material havinga back portion, right and left front flaps each having a substantiallyvertical, free edge which merges at its upper end with a diagonal edge,the garment having right and left arm scyes and having sleeves securedin the respective arm scyes by seams which extend down into the garmentmaterial below each respective arm scye, the front flap at one side ofthe garment having one of the complemental elements of a snap fastenerlocated adjacent to the junction of the vertical and diagonal portionsof its free edge, the other of said complemental elements of the snapfastener being secured to the opposite side of the garment at theinterior of the latter and just below the arm scye, the first-named ofthe complemental snap fastener elements being mounted on a piece ofclose Woven textile fabric which is united by stitches to the knittedmaterial of the garment, the second-named of said complementary fastenerelements being mounted on a length of woven tape, and stitches whichpass through the knitted material of the garment at the location of saiddownward extension of the sleeve-attaching seam for uniting said tape tothe garment.

2. An infants garment according to claim 1 wherein the length of tapewhich carries the second-named of said complementary snap fastenerelements is initially folded intermediate its ends to form a loop, and arip seam normally holding a the tape so folded whereby the effectivelength of the tape may be increased by ravelling out said rip seam.

3. An infants garment of the wrap-around type, of knitted materialhaving a back portion and right and left front flaps each having asubstantially vertical free edge which merges at its upper end with adiagonal edge, the garment having right and left arm scyes, one of saidfront flaps overlapping and lying in front of the other when the garmentis worn, and means for holding the said overlapping flap in suchoverlapping position, said holding means comprising at least one snapfastener, said snap fastener having one of its complementary partsattached to said overlapping flap adjacent to the free vertical edge ofthe latter, the other complemental part of the respective snap fastenerbeing secured to the garment approximately at the junction of the otherflap with the back of the garment, the free edge of the overlapping flapto which the snap fastener element is attached being provided with anedge binding, that element of the snap fastener which is attached to theoverlapping front flap being mounted upon a length of closely woventextile tape which is secured to the garment material by stitches whichpass through the edge binding, the length of tape which carries saidlatter element of the snap fastener being variable in length.

4. An infants garment of the wrap-around type of knitted material havinga back portion, right and left front flaps each having a substantiallyvertical free edge which merges at its upper end with a diagonal edge,the garment having right and left arm scyes, and wherein sleeves aresecured to the respective arm scyes by seams which extend down into thegarment material below each arm scye, respectively, and means forholding each of said front flaps in place when the garment is worn, andhaving in combination, two vertically elongate, elastically stretchablediaper tabs, one at each side of the garment and arranged at theinterior of the latter, each tab being anchored at its upper end to oneof the respective front flaps, closely adjacent to the junction of theflap with the back of the garment, by a transversely extending seamwhich is approximately in the horizontal plane of the lower end of thedownward extension of the sleeveattaching seam.

JUSTIN L. WYNER.

RUTH R. SCHARF.

eeferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 770,493 Burkland Sept. 30, 1904 1,030,989 Fanta July 2, 19121,119,399 Burkland Dec. 1, 1914 1,805,766 Groves May 19, 1931 2, 46,394Sunseri Aug. 3, 1948 2,511,809 Ryan June 13, 1950

